Woman killed in car crash after pepper spray attack

Kassandra Castillo on life support to donate organs

Technically, Kassandra Castillo was pronounced dead yesterday following a car accident. However, according to family, Kassandra is still being kept alive in order to harvest her organs later today. (Stacey Wescott, Chicago Tribune)

Technically, Kassandra Castillo was pronounced dead yesterday following a car accident. However, according to family, Kassandra is still being kept alive in order to harvest her organs later today. (Stacey Wescott, Chicago Tribune)

Staff report

A woman who recently graduated from high school was killed and another seriously injured when their car crashed after they were attacked with pepper spray in the Logan Square neighborhood on the Northwest Side, officials said.

Kassandra Castillo, 18, of the 3300 block of Edgington Street in Franklin Park, was declared dead at 4:37 p.m. Sunday at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Castillo, who recently graduated from East Leyden High School, was kept on life support so her organs could be harvested, a family member said today.

The other woman, 27, was taken in serious condition to Mount Sinai Hospital.

The two were in a parked car in the 3700 block of West Belden Avenue around 5 a.m. Sunday when an argument broke out with a group of people on the street, according to Chicago Police Department News Affairs Officer Jose Estrada.

Someone in the group attacked the women with pepper spray. The women then sped off in their car and crashed into two parked cars, Estrada said.

In an interview with the Tribune, Castillo's aunt, Celene Castillo, said the teen was a popular girl with "big smile."

Castillo's family owns an Herbal Life store and embraces a healthy lifestyle, Celene Castillo said. Inside the store they have an exercise studio and Kassandra Castillo taught classes in Zumba, an exercise style that uses dance in combination with international and Latin music.

Castillo was in great shape and had lost 3 clothes sizes and hoped to become a model. Her aunt said Castillo was always trying to motivate others to get healthy and get in shape.

Castillo is survived by her parents and older brother, and a large extended family, many of whom are coming into town from around the country, as well as Mexio, her aunt said.